Sports
Howard Alumni compete in World Athletic Championships Tokyo 2025
The World Athletics Championships 2025 took place at the National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan, this past week. This event allows the world’s best athletes to showcase their skills and this year two former Bison were among them.
2023 Howard University graduate Dylan Beard represented Team USA men’s 110m hurdles. The first round of the men’s 100m hurdles occurred Sept. 15 with Beard clocking 13.28 seconds, the fastest time in his heat. His time secured his spot in the semi-finals; however, the next day, he was unsuccessful in qualifying for the finals.
Joining Beard on this stage was Jessika Gbai, a 2022 Howard graduate. Representing Côte d’Ivoire in the women’s 200 meters, Gbai showcased her talent by advancing to the semi-finals with a time of 22.81 seconds, but, similar to Beard, she did not qualify for the finals.
In just two years as a professional track athlete, Beard was able to reach the World Athletics Championships 2025. Beard did not dwell on his loss and acknowledged how big of an accomplishment it was to get to the competition.
“My biggest takeaway was to live in the moment,” Beard said. “I have no regrets about how I performed. I genuinely just took it for what it was, a competition, the biggest competition in front of the world against the world’s best.”
“And now I want more,” Beard continued. “I want to be back at the world championships and I want to be at the LA 2028 Olympics. I want it all now.”
Unlike Beard, who had extensive track accomplishments in high school and during stints at Hampton University and Wagner College before coming to Howard as a graduate student, Gbai enrolled in Howard straight out of high school with no prior competitive track experience.
Gbai tried out for the team during Coach David Oliver’s first year as director of track and field, and he was eager to turn the program around. So, he decided to take a chance on her.
“It’s really just timing,” Oliver said. “We had just gotten here as coaches, the team was fairly nonexistent and she wanted to run. She, along with a couple of her teammates that also walked on to the team that year, took that opportunity and cemented themselves as legends at Howard.”
Gbai took that chance and ran with it. She developed into one of Howard’s top performing runners, earning multiple Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) honors and setting records in the 100 meters, 200 meters and both relays at Howard.
Following her career at Howard, Gbai quickly made a name for herself, qualifying for every World Athletics Championship since her graduation and securing a spot in the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 2024, where she qualified for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.
Gbai’s journey as a walk-on and Beard’s journey working at Walmart while being a professional athlete show that greatness isn’t limited to those who attend the “track and field powerhouses.”
“We’re watching these world championships and you’re looking at people that never went to college and people who never surpassed junior college,” Beard told The Hilltop. “That’s the beauty of the sport, the name on the front of your jersey never matters.”
“And when you have people that are smart enough to realize that the only thing that matters in this sport is who’s guiding you day to day, not anything other than that, then you’ll achieve the success that you ultimately should have.”
Athletes like Melissa Jefferson, a former Coastal Carolina University sprinter who rose from a mid-major program to become the World Champion in the 100 meters, serve as a testament to this. Her rise, alongside Beard and Gbai’s, opens the door for these mid-major programs to gain valuable athletes that would have otherwise gone to the bigger schools.
Copy edited by Daryl R. Thomas Jr.
Sports
Texas A&M tops Kentucky for first NCAA volleyball championship: ‘We sent a warning shot out to the world’
With Texas A&M up 24-20 in the third set of the NCAA women’s volleyball title match, Maddie Waak set the ball for Ifenna Cos-Okpalla. Though Logan Lednicky and Kyndal Stowers had played bigger games for the Aggies, it was Cos-Okpalla who got the call for the championship point.
She elevated and slammed the ball in between Kentucky’s defenders at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City. With that kill, Texas A&M won an improbable national title, 3-0 (26-24, 25-15, 25-20).
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“They’re putting on t-shirts behind me. I can’t believe it. I’m still a little bit in disbelief,” Aggies coach Jamie Morrison said to ABC after the game. “We sent a warning shot out to the world about what we’re about.”
Kentucky, the No. 1 seed, started out strong in the first set. They built a lead as big as six points before Texas A&M started chipping away, eventually winning the set, 26-24. With that momentum, the Aggies owned the next two sets. Lednicky was the star of the match with 7 kills, 11 digs and 2 blocks. With every point won, Texas A&M’s confidence grew.
Kentucky was the third No. 1 seed that Texas A&M — a third seed — beat on the way to the national title, and every win from the Sweet 16 on was shocking. First, the Aggies came back from 2-0 to pull the reverse sweep against Louisville. Next, Texas A&M had to face undefeated, No. 1 overall seed Nebraska in Lincoln. In what was the best game of the tournament, the Aggies beat Nebraska in five sets.
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But their magic didn’t stop once the Aggies got to Kansas City. In the national semifinal, they swept No. 1 seed Pittsburgh, the first time the Panthers had been swept all season. And then in the first-ever All-SEC final, the Aggies came out victorious.
Unlike Kentucky, which won the national title in 2020 and has been one of the top teams in women’s volleyball for years, Texas A&M is a newcomer to volleyball’s elite. Though it had some good teams over the years that made it to the Elite Eight, this was the program’s first Final Four and their first national title.
Morrison took over the program in 2023, and held onto Lednicky and Cos-Okpalla. The Aggies turned the program around quickly, earning a bid to the tournament in 2023 and then making it to the Sweet 16 in 2024. This year, the Aggies went 29-4 and looked like a team on the brink. But with so many seniors, they had no time to waste and adopted the mentality of “Why not us?”
Lednicky, who played with the U.S. national team over the summer, was the heart of this team’s championship run, and the player who kept asking “Why not us?” Stowers’ comeback might be one of the best sports stories of the year. While playing for Baylor, she suffered concussions and medically retired from the sport. But after being medically cleared and deciding she had more to give to the sport, Stowers signed with Texas A&M and is now a national champion.
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Morrison has built a program that is not only a national champion, but is in a great position to continue to grow volleyball in Texas. While he will lose seniors like Lednicky and Waak, he can now show off a championship ring while on the recruiting trail.
But figuring out who will play for the Aggies next season is tomorrow’s problem. Today, Texas A&M gets to celebrate how it defied the odds to win the school’s first-ever national title in women’s volleyball.
Kentucky volleyball will look to win its second national title in five years on Sunday when it takes on Texas A&M in Kansas City.How to watchSunday’s game tips off at 3:30 p.m. at the T-Mobile Center. It will air on ABC.PreviewKentucky comes to the game on Sunday with the edge. The Cats are No. 2 overall in the NCAA ranking, and they have previously beaten the No. 6 Aggies 3-1 in October. That game, an A&M home game, saw then No. 3 Kentucky face off against No. 9 Texas A&M, but since that meet-up, the Cats have not lost a single game, and the Aggies are right behind them with a single loss to home state rival Texas. The Wildcats have won 27 straight games, 30-2 overall, with their last loss in September to Pittsburgh. Texas A&M comes in 28-4 overall, with a five-game win streak, after their loss to Texas destroyed their 11-game win streak.Kentucky is no stranger to the NCAA championship. The Cats snagged their first title in 2020 after they beat Texas 3-1 in Omaha. Texas A&M has not made an appearance at the NCAA championship but has finished in the top ten four times in the last five years, finishing in fifth place in 2024.
Kentucky volleyball will look to win its second national title in five years on Sunday when it takes on Texas A&M in Kansas City.
How to watch
Sunday’s game tips off at 3:30 p.m. at the T-Mobile Center. It will air on ABC.
Preview
Kentucky comes to the game on Sunday with the edge. The Cats are No. 2 overall in the NCAA ranking, and they have previously beaten the No. 6 Aggies 3-1 in October. That game, an A&M home game, saw then No. 3 Kentucky face off against No. 9 Texas A&M, but since that meet-up, the Cats have not lost a single game, and the Aggies are right behind them with a single loss to home state rival Texas.
The Wildcats have won 27 straight games, 30-2 overall, with their last loss in September to Pittsburgh. Texas A&M comes in 28-4 overall, with a five-game win streak, after their loss to Texas destroyed their 11-game win streak.
Kentucky is no stranger to the NCAA championship. The Cats snagged their first title in 2020 after they beat Texas 3-1 in Omaha.
Texas A&M has not made an appearance at the NCAA championship but has finished in the top ten four times in the last five years, finishing in fifth place in 2024.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Texas A&M Aggies overwhelmed the Kentucky Wildcats in the final two sets of a 3-0 (26-24, 25-15, 25-18) victory to claim the school’s first-ever NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship Sunday evening inside the T-Mobile Center.
Entering the tournament as the No. 3 seed in the Lincoln Regional, Texas A&M (29-4) completed a postseason sweep of three of the tournament’s No. 1 seeds, beating Nebraska (3-2) and Pitt (3-0) before dispatching of Kentucky (30-3). The last three teams the Maroon & White beat were a combined 93-6 before their respective seasons were ended.
The Aggies became the ninth team in the 45-year history of the NCAA Championship to sweep both of their Final Four matches.
The Maroon & White never trailed in the last two sets. The opportunistic Aggies took advantage of the Wildcats’ nine service errors and 16 attack errors.
Kyndal Stowers was named the NCAA Championship Most Outstanding Player. She capped off the tournament with a .304 attack percentage, 10 kills, six digs, two service aces and one block in the triumph over Kentucky. Ifenna Cos-Okpalla, Logan Lednicky and Ava Underwood joined Stowers on the All-Tournament Team.
Texas A&M claimed the first set despite not leading until 25-24. The Wildcats pounced on the Aggies in the first set for a 9-3 advantage. Kentucky led by six on eight more occasions, before the Maroon & White clawed back into the contest. An 8-2 run, featuring two kills each by Cos-Okpalla and Lednicky, tied the contest at 20-20. With the set seesawing, the Wildcats had its first set point at 24-23, but Stowers sandwiched two kills around a block assist by Cos-Okpalla and Maddie Waak for the smash and grab.
The second set was tied twice early before the Aggies broke away. Back-to-back kills by Lednicky and a service ace by Cos-Okpalla allowed Texas A&M to open a 5-2 lead. The Maroon & White suffocated the Wildcats with a 13-3 run to open its biggest lead of the set at 19-8. Kentucky would draw no closer than seven the remainder of the set.
After Kentucky opened the third set with a service error, Cos-Okpalla put aways two kills to start a 6-1 surge out of the gate. The Wildcats cut the deficit to 10-8, but 9-3 charge by Texas A&M widened the lead to 19-11. Big Blue was closed the gap to four at 24-20, but it was too little, too late as Cos-Okpalla uncorked a booming kill for the final point.
STAT LEADERS
Kills – Logan Lednicky – 11
Hitting Percentage (Min. 10 kills) – Kyndal Stowers – .304
Assists – Maddie Waak – 29
Aces – Ifenna Cos-Okpalla; Maddie Waak – 2
Digs – Ava Underwood – 10
Blocks – Ifenna Cos-Okpalla – 4
GAME NOTES
- Logan Lednicky recorded her 23nd-consecutive game with 10 or more kills.
- Ifenna Cos-Okpalla set the Texas A&M career record for blocks, wrapping up with 566. She also inflated her single-season school record to 199.
- Jamie Morrison joined John Dunning (first year) and Michael Sealy (second year) as one of three coaches two win an NCAA Division I Volleyball tournament in their first three years as a head coach.
- The Aggies beat all four of the No. 1 seeds of the NCAA Championship, beating Texas (3-2) in the regular season and Nebraska (3-2), Pitt (3-0) and Kentucky (3-0).
FOLLOW THE AGGIES
Visit 12thMan.com for more information on Texas A&M volleyball. Fans can keep up to date with the A&M volleyball team on Facebook, Instagram and on Twitter by following @AggieVolleyball.
Track and Field
Aviana, also known as Avi, is no stranger to success on the track. Before turning 18, Avi had already won three state championships and earned multiple bronze medals, along with a silver, while competing for her high school track team — and even added a school record in the process. Her winning nature carried over to Syracuse where she balanced being a student and an athlete, studying Communication and Rhetorical Studies at VPA and Sports Revenue Management & Operations at Falk College. This balance paid off as she earned top-six finishes at the 2019 ACC Indoor and Outdoor Championships in the high jump. She continued to add to her long list of track achievements during her graduate transfer year when she competed for The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) where she previously held the indoor program record for 60m hurdles and the outdoor record for the 100m hurdles and heptathlon. Although she no longer competes on the track, she has found a new way to stay involved with the sport she loves.
It was always Aviana’s dream to earn a trip to TrackTown USA in Eugene, Oregon. For those who may not know, TrackTown is a world-class track and field facility organizing events such as the 2015, 2022, 2023 USATF Outdoor Championships and the 2016, 2020, and 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Aviana’s dream to make it to TrackTown USA, also known as Hayward Field, came true when she was selected as one of four photographers to cover the 2024 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Team Trials as park of the Black Women Photographers and TrackTown USA creative team.
“It was surreal,” Aviana said. “My goal in life, in track and field specifically, was always to make it to Hayward Field. It was supposed to be as an athlete, but I guess God had different plans for me. I ended up there with a whole new lens, literally and figuratively.”
Aviana spent over a week at TrackTown shooting world-class athletes like Olympic champion and eight-time World Champion, Noah Lyles, Olympic long jump champion, Tara Davis-Woodhall, and even Olympian and World Record breaker, Sydney McLaughlin.
The unique part about the entire situation is that Aviana was just a newbie in the sports photography world at this point. She had started sports photography just two years prior to shooting on this world-class stage and had only shot one outdoor track meet before. Despite the lack of experience, Polly Irungu, founder of Black Women Photographers, loved her photos and style.
The opportunity to shoot the Olympic Trials allowed Aviana to grow tremendously as a person but also as a photographer. While covering the Olympic Trials, she noticed that not many women of color were working as creatives although the sport is predominately black. There were only five other creatives that were black women that she saw capturing the events at TrackTown. This realization inspired Avi to be a role model and a representation for young black women and women of color who want to step into the creative world. As a freelance photographer based in NYC, she continues to refine her craft, working with athletes, brands, and events to create high-impact imagery that resonates.
“Being a photographer allows me to go out there and still feel like an athlete. I can feel the emotion. I’m capturing everything to remember the moment and to show the love and passion for the sport that I think is the hardest sport in the world, Aviana said.
Stay connected with Aviana on Linkedin: Aviana Goode | LinkedIn & Instagram: @goode.flicks
Updated Dec. 21, 2025, 5:16 p.m. ET
The Kentucky Wildcats volleyball team needed one more win to bring home a national championship, but the Texas A&M Aggies were the better team on Sunday afternoon, and it’s they who took home the trophy after winning the match 3-0 (26-24, 25-15, 25-20).
It looked like the Wildcats were going to take control early. They jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the first set, and led big as play progressed. However, some good Texas A&M serves, and some bad Kentucky passing led to an Aggies comeback.
After that first set, it seemed as if the life drained out of the Wildcats. The Aggies dominated the second set. They blocked nearly every Kentucky kill attempt, and dug out the rest. The Cats had no answers, and they fell behind 2-0.
Set three got away quickly from the Wildcats as well. The Texas A&M defense stayed strong, and more importantly, their passing was immaculate, and led to easy points. They would wind up taking it 25-20 to get the sweep and win the national championship.
It was a tough end to the season for Kentucky. Unfortunately, in the biggest game of the year, they had their worst performance. However, credit Texas A&M, who saved their best for last.
Congratulations to Texas A&M on the win, and congratulations to the Kentucky Wildcats for the terrific season.
Texas A&M wins set three and the match
The Aggies were the better team today, and are the national champions.
And another Kentucky service error
Their ninth of the match makes it 21-15 Aggies.
Kentucky service error
It was their eighth of the match.
Domination
The Aggies have just been the better team today, and lead 19-11 in set three.
More unforced errors for Kentucky
Kentucky’s seventh service error makes it 13-9 Aggies.
Kassie O’Brien kill as Kentucky tries to stay in it
The Wildcats trail 12-9 in set three.
Kentucky in big trouble
They’re down 6-1 now.
Kentucky error begins set three
Three straight errors by the Wildcats have the Aggies down 3-0 in set three.
Kentucky hitting has to improve
The Wildcats had a negative hit percentage in the second set and they’re hitting just .067 in the match.
Aggies take set two
It was complete domination by Texas A&M in the second set. They lead 2-0.
Texas A&M dominating
The Wildcats have no answers right now. Every shot is either being blocked, or just misses. It’s 24-15 Aggies.
Hitting errors hurting Kentucky now
Back to back striking errors have the Aggies leading 14-7 now and it’s danger time.
Block party for the Aggies
Kentucky is getting nothing right now. It’s another block for Texas A&M and it’s 10-5 Aggies in set two.
Eva Hudson kill
Hudson crushes one to make it 8-5 Aggies.
Another block by Texas A&M
Kentucky is struggling to get shots over the net. The Aggies defense is dominating the match.
Aggies defense taking over
Texas A&M is digging out every kill attempt, and poor passing is still a problem. Kentucky trails 4-2.
Texas A&M scores first in set two
A long rally ends with an Aggies point to begin the second set.
Kentucky has to rebound quickly
The Wildcats blew a big lead in set one with bad passing and sets. They have to recover quickly now.
Texas A&M takes set one 26-24
Kentucky’s passing was bad down the stretch, and it cost them the first set.
Kentucky trails
Some questionable passing has led to easy points for the Aggies, and they lead 25-24.
It’s tied again
A bad set from Kassie O’Brien led to a point for Texas A&M, and a tie at 23.
Molly Tuozzo ace
It’s a big ace for Tuozzo to put Kentucky up 23-21.
Service errors returning
Kentucky now has 3 service errors in the first set.
The match is tied
Texas A&M gets a block and it’s now 20-20.
Eva Hudson stops the run
Hudson gets a shot down the line and ends the scoring run for the Aggies.
Kentucky calls timeout
The Aggies have scored four straight points and it’s now 18-16 Kentucky in set one.
Texas A&M making a run
They’ve scored 3 straight points to cut the lead to 18-15.
Brooklyn DeLeye with back to back kills
DeLeye is using terrific location shots to get points. It’s 17-11 Wildcats.
Asia Thigpen is off to a hot start
She has two blocks already, and adds a kill to make it 14-9 Kentucky.
Brooklyn DeLeye kill
From the back row, DeLeye gets a big kill to make it 13-7 Wildcats.
Asia Thigpen again
Thigpen gets her second block, and Kentucky leads 9-3.
Asia Thigpen block
It’s 6-1 Kentucky after Thigpen gets the big defensive play. The serving has been very good so far, and a big factor.
Kassie O’Brien makes it 3-0
The Wildcats have started fast, and lead early on.
Kentucky scores first
The first point of the match is scored by the Wildcats.
It’s time
Kentucky vs Texas A&M for the national championship.
Where to watch Kentucky vs Texas A&M
When to watch Kentucky vs Texas A&M
- Date: Sunday, Dec. 21
- Time: 3:30 P.M. ET
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